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THOMAS ELOOATE, or NEWOASTLE-UPON-TYNE, COUNTY or NORTHUMBER- LAND, ENeLAsD.

CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 252,932, dated January 31, 1882.

Application tiled October 11, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS ELCOATE, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the county of Northumberland, and in the Kingdom of England,

have invented certain newanduseful Improvements in Condensers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' [O to make and use the same.

In ordinary condensing apparatus, besides the condenser, a cold-waterpun'ip and an airpump have to be employed.

Now, my invention consists in combining all three articles in one instrument, thereby saving space and power and greatly simplifying the apparatus. I hope also by this means to get a more perfect vacuum than can be obtained by any ordinary condenser.

Myinvention in its outward appearance and actual working strongly resembles a centrifugal pump with the shaft and vanes made hollow. Into these vanes the steam to be condensed is passed from the shaft. The hollow space in such vane is gradually thinned toward the outer end, which is open. Between the vanes the water is admitted, preferably from the other end of the hollow shaft, and, traversing outside the hollow vanes, makes its 0 exit into the outer peripheral exhaust along with the water of condensation which escapes from the vanes. I prefer to place an' interior casing, bolting, riveting, or otherwise binding it to all the vanes and inclosing thewateri 5 space; but this is more to strengthen the vanes than an absolute necessity. The hollow shaft is supported on pedestals, and is connected at its ends by glands or trunnions with the exhaust-steam and water respectively. The cas- 0 ing outside the fan is somewhat similar to an ordinary fan-ease, and requires no further mention. I

The mode of action is as follows: The shaft being rapidly rotated by means of a belt, gear- 5 ing, or otherwise, the exhaust-steam is let in at one end, the cold water at the other. The

two are prevented from mingling in the shaft by transverse diaphragm or partition. Both water and steam are forced outward in the hollow revolving casing and its inclosed vanes respectively by the centrifugal action of the pump. The centrifugal force, too, forces the water against the vane, and thus cools the vane audits included steam, causing the latter to condense into water. This water is propelled outward with any air that may be included with it, until, reaching the orifice and meeting the larger body of condensing water passing it toward the exhaust. it is still further accelerated, on the principle of the Sprengel pump, by the suction caused by the passing stream. Thus, without any tnore moving parts than a fan, my apparatus accomplishes the work of a condenser, an air-pump,an l an ordinary condensing water-pump;

In some cases I employ diverters or guides to force the water to cool both sides of the vane, so as to still further increase the condensing capacity in a given size, even though at the expense of extra power and possibly of exhaustive force.

In order to more clearly set forth tnyinvention, I hereto append drawings illustrative of an apparatus on my principle.

Figure 1 is a transverse section; Fig. 2, a

longitudinal one, partly in elevation; Fig. 3, 7

views showing attachment of the disks K and plates I or J; Fig. 4, detail view of section of shaft and )assages,one pa:t taken on one side the diaphragm and the other taken on the other side the diaphragm, which is shown broken; Figs. 5 and 6, alternate arrangement for driving by means of a crank when it is not convenient to use a belt; Fig. 7, detail views of shaft with ports. 8 A is the stationary fan-case, preferably of stout cast-iron, cast in two halves and bolted together by flanges. In this rotates a tubular shaft, P O, driven by belt passed around pulley F, keyed to said shaft. This shaft is divid- 0 ed transversely into'two parts, P and O, by diaphragm V. The steam to be condensed is admitted into the end P and the condensingwater into 0. The diaphragm V is'located about midway between the two sides of the 5 fan J are curved hollow vanes. connected at H to the steam end P of the tubular shaft. 1 are the outer passages, formed by plates I, connected at S with the water-chamber O of shaft. 10o

K K are two brass disks, secured to the shaft by rivets and rotating with it, onto which the partitions I and J are cast or brazed. In

' practiee I prefer to rivet the plates J J to the shalt and fasten the plates I by brass rivet or temporary rod L, longer than the width of the plate. lpret'er to lay all the other parts in the sand of a tnold and cast the plates or disks K in position upon them,the plates I and J being provided with holes M for themolten metal toenter, in order to bind the parts the tnore firmly together.

Around shalt P are a stuffing-box, Q, and gland N, to prevent leakage from the steatn end of the pipe. B are bearings, titted tight into the recess turned for them, for the hollow shaft, and U G brass parking'rings, titted loosely into their recesses, and kept by any suitable tneans from turning in the case. ItingsD D are loosely fitted, and have springs D riveted on them, which press out against 0 C, and can be further set out by bolts E. These are to prevent leaking into the shafting. Gr, bracket, with four legs, to carry stuffing-box Q and a flange for pipe connection. A similar flange is fixed atthe other end of the shaft on the casing A.

The mode of action is as follows: The shaft P being rotated by the belt on F or other suitable means, the steam to be condensed is let into part P, and flows through the openings 11 into the hollow vanes J. In the meantime the water is let into the chamber 0 of the shaft and flows through the openings S into the outer passage, I, and, being kept pressed against the walls of the hollow vanes, cools the latter. By the centrifugal force developed by the rapid rotation in the direction of the arrows U the steam, air, and condensed water fly outward to the opening of the hollow vane at X. This open ng can, if desired, be at the periphery of the disks at Y instead of stopping short. As thcsteam, air, and waterescape at X, the water passingthis point at the same time has a strong frictional exhaust action, similar to that of the Sprengel pump, helping, in addition to the centrit'ugalforce, to draw out the condensed steam, air, and vapor from the steam'vanes.

Z Z are small perforations, which I sometimes pierce through the walls of the waterspace into the hollow vanes, so as to form jets of water in the condenser, and sometimes Ido away with the partitions I altogether and bring out most or all of the water through perforations, such as Z, only enlarged, thus converting my apparatus from a surface-condenser into an injector-condenser.

The flow of the water can be regulated by a valve, and admission through openings Z regulated, it'desired, by a slide working in 0. As, however, such slide would be of very limited and occasional use, andis not, in my opinion, necessary, and could be designed by any draftsman, I think it is needless to cumber the drawings by showing it.

I claim as my invention 1. As a new article of manufacture, a condensing apparatus in which the steam is let into the hollow vanes of a centrifugal pump rotating at a high velocity.

2. The process of condensin g stcatn, consisting in delivering the satne into a centrifugal machine through which water is passed atthe same time, substantially as described and shown.

3. A condenserconsisting ofrevolving arms or conductors, provided at the center with separate steam and water admissions.

4. A condenser consisting of a series of revolving arms or conductors, provided with a central inlet, and passages, within said arms, provided with a separate inlet, whereby the steam and the condensing medium may be introduced and passed separately through the apparatus.

5. In a rotary condenser, the combination of two series of radiating artns or conductors, one within the other, with a space between, and inlets whereby the steam and the condensing mediummay be admitted separately to the respective passages.

6. The combination of the tubular transversely-divided shaft having the two series of ports or openings, the side plates, K, and the intermediate plates, I and J.

7. In a rotary condenser, the steam-chambers J, with openings at their ends farthest from the center for the escape of air and water, exposed to a current of condensing-water flowing past them, and thus causing an induced current outward on the principle of a Sprengcl pump.

8. In a rotary condenser, the combination of a tubular shaft, tubular arms, and independent passages for the passage of the steam and the condensing medium into the arms.

9. In a rotary condenser, the combination of radiating steam-conducting arms and passages lying contiguous to said arms and extending outward beyond the same, whereby the escaping steam is subjected to the frictional action of the outward-flowing condensing medium.

10. In a rotary condenser, the combination of the casing, the rotary side plates, I, and the packing-rings O, as shown.

11. In a rotary condenser,the combination of radiating steam and water passages, lying contiguous to each other, a tubular shalt divided transversely, ports leading from one end of the shaft into the steam-passage, and ports leading from the opposite end of the shaftinto the water-passage, or both water and steam passages.

THOMAS ELOOATE.

WVitnesses:

JOHN P. INGLEDEW, GEO. GIBBoN. 

